City Council to discuss Woolworth Building project on Monday night

City Council members will find out more tonight about a Long Island developers plans to convert the Woolworth Building on Public Square to rental housing.

City officials have confirmed that the $7.275 million Woolworth project will be main the topic of Mondays Watertown City Council work session.

Members of developer Michael A. Treanors team will attend the session to discuss the status of the project, which will turn the historic landmark into 60 upper-floor apartments with businesses on the ground floor.

Mr. Treanor is expected to accompany his new partner, David Gallo, and possibly others involved in the downtown project. It will be the first meeting with city officials since Mr. Treanor assured city officials the project was a go.

I think we want to get it right from the horses mouth on whats going on, said Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham.

Kenneth A. Mix, the citys planning and community development coordinator, surmised Friday that the developer will make a presentation on where the project stands and what exactly he plans to do.

The developers appearance comes after some community and business leaders worried late last year that he was in jeopardy of losing a $1.82 million state Restore New York grant because the project appeared to have stalled.

Mr. Mix expects that council members will bring up moving the citys central bus transfer station that sits behind the building on Arcade Street.

Mr. Treanor has told city officials that obtaining the bus loop and some green space on the other side of Public Square, near the Woodruff Professional Building, is necessary for him to do the restoration. Both sites would be used for parking.

If the shelter is moved, buses would line up along Arsenal Street to pick up and drop off passengers. Mr. Mix recently estimated that relocating the CitiBus loop could cost as much as $200,000.

Mr. Mix said those matters still must be worked out why they are needed for the project. The city and the developer would need to negotiate a deal for the two city-owned pieces of land.

Mr. Gallo, president of Georgica Green Ventures, Nassau County, seems to be the point man on the project since he has been Mr. Mixs main contact for the past several weeks.

On Monday night, council members also will continue their recent discussions about pit bulls and aggressive dogs.

Police Chief Joseph J. Goss, city attorney Christine E. Stone and Todd L. Cummings, Jefferson Countys dog control supervisor, will attend the work session to answer questions about existing laws and about how to control aggressive dogs.

Council members may also be able to finalize a new contract with the Watertown Wizards summer collegiate baseball team for the coming season.

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